The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-11-10
CHANGES.
Tae Farmers Of Tennessee Urged TO
Kesp Pace with the
Times,

Times.
An Able Paper on the Progress of the
Times and the Necessities
Of the Hour.
For The CITIZEN.
There have been rem srkable
changes even in the familiar things
around us,and none more remarka-
BILE than those observed by many of
the farmers of our county. The writ
er remembers when it could be lit
orally said that mother earth would
smile with q harvest when tickled
with hoe; when you had only to
scatter your wheat and drag tur-
key gobbler over the field by the
tail to secure crop. Many Of these
fields cannot now be persuaded
to sprout the grain, and many
that used to whiten like the snow
with the feecy staple, and with the
scantiest encouragement, can now
scarcely be coaxed to grow cotton
at all. These are very great and
| sad changes, yet there are others
involving disaster and ruin, with
cut compromising energy and
intelligence to counterfeit them. To
an impoverished soil we have di-
minished production, broader CON-
petition,a more unreliable system Of
TEN OF labor, smaller profits
and more sharks swim ming
around in search Of them. How to
discount these changes is a ques-
ton of serious import and our intel
ligent, thinking, progressive farm
ers are giving their best thought
to it. Superaddsd to our impover
ished soil, there is a greater de-
mand upon it growing out of
an increased population. To
meet it and derive profit at all
from production, there must be re-
fertilization and preparation of
soil and cultivation according to
the fixed principles of agricultural
science. To be successful, then,
involves a knowledge Of these I'm,
| DERIVING principles and other intel
ligent application. The farmer
must understand the conditions IA
vorable to plant growth aud deyel.
opment; this knowledge must be &c
quired and requires thoughtful
study, observation and patient in
duatry. we have now the conyiC-
cion most forcibly impressed, grow
ing out Of the changes TO which We
have referred, that profitable farm
ing requires an educated intelli-
gence to direct, patient, pains
taking industry and a wiser econo-
my in all its details. We have rea-
son to rejoice that realization OF
the needs Of the hour has quickened
| The energies of our farmers, and
there IS active effort TO meet emer-
gencies which have naturally grown
ont of changes so fsr reaching and
disastrous. They have formed clubs
and associations that there might be
| discussion of methods and means
and concert of action when necessa-
ry; there has been wider demand
for the agricultural literature OF the
day, more general inquiry for the
| best methods of culture, improved
iaeeds; there hes been diversified
tion of crops snd Of farm indus
tries, wiser economy in l2tDJccEr, IN Lie
saving and marketing Of crops, in
the selection and care Of tools, III
be improvement Of stock, anC, in
fact, III every department of bus
napdry. These facts attes, the en-
ergy and facility with which our
farmers have adapted themselves to
he changed conditions which have
confronted them. But they have
realized that more intelligent &C
tlvity in the farm and field ia not
all that is essential, and it is 8
most commendable spirit of prog.
fess that is demanding more
practical education for the young in
he public schools of the state, both
because valuable information for
the beginner may be acquired il
these schools, and in its acquisition
there will be needed men tai training
| and discipline and foundation for
that self education, the necessity
for which is now realized by every
thinking farmer in the state, and
| by which not. only is the practical
intelligence enlarged, but it gives &
3zest ands an interest TO farm life,
which robs il of much of the mo-
notony and drudgery which is too
often reprOach to it. 1t is not
only because it is of chief impor
lance now, as essential TO profitable
farming, that every farmer must
have some knowledge of the prin
ciples of scientific agriculture that
the foundation for such knowledge
must be laid in the common schools
but the consciousness of this knowl
e lge will arouse the manhood and
awaken the industry and. the ener-
Sies of the young farmer as moth
ing else will. This consciousness
will stimulate his desire for fur
ther advancement, will excite his
pride, and invest the pursuit of ag-
riculture with 8 new dignity to him
The present is a most suspicious
time for the Inauguration OF :
grand educational reform in the in
1erest Of the agricultural classes
Tie necessity for the practical ed
ucatiou Ito which we refer is lei
throughout the state. The need o
a especial qualification for the di
versified forms of husbandry is ev-
erywhere recognized, and at thu
late Teachers Association at Jack
son grave consideration WAS giver
10 the subiect of Agricultural an(